I'd never use bleach (even diluted) on wood, as the fumes linger on & are irritating, even toxic to living things. When I use large natural branches I just set them out
on my cement driveway in the sun, & spray them down good (all sides) with the same diluted chlorhexidine I use to clean their tanks etc. Let them air dry, chlorhex-
idine (or diluted F10) won't irritate once dry, it just kills some germs on the outside, & the hot sun helps too...this is best in summer. The only thing I've ever had
from a branch is a wood-boring beetle that leaves tiny tell-tale piles of fine sawdust on the tops of hides...doesn't bother the snake (or me). I use quite a few natural
branches...I have many big trees that donate frequently.
I even dragged home a beautifully-curving branch that I fished out of the river I was kayaking; it's still in use, & it has a very snake-like form. Jahlil really blends in
when he lays on it, & with all the bark gone, it's nice and smooth. That's something you might want to do with your branches prior to spraying them...sand off some
or all the bark...that takes care of most issues right there. What I usually do is just use a stiff wire brush to at least brush off all the loose bark. Then spray...
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